He remains heavily sedated and has a breathing tube that helps him rest as the healing begins.

Corey, 24, was injured Wednesday when an IED exploded while he and his squad were approaching a compound outside Kandahar. Five of eight squad members were injured. Garmon's left leg has been amputated below the knee, and he has two broken bones in his right leg.

His left arm is damaged, and his right cornea is bruised. He has numerous soft-tissue injuries from shrapnel.

He is scheduled for surgery every other day all week, his father said.

“He's physically strong,” his father said. “He is a miracle.”

Garmon said the mother and the wife of Josh Wetzel, an injured soldier from Glencoe, met Corey when he arrived at Walter Reed on Sunday. The women met Garmon and his wife, Lori, when they arrived at the hospital from Alabama early Monday.

As Corey was taken from the helicopter at the hospital, Wetzel's mother, Cathi Hayes, and his wife, Paige Wetzel, took some pictures and sent those to Corey's parents while they were trying to make their way to Maryland.

Facebook pages — Prayers for Josh Wetzel and Prayers for Corey Garmon — have been created for the soldiers.

Wetzel's has more than 13,000 members, and his family has been able to update almost daily about his condition.

Wetzel, a U.S. Army specialist, was injured May 31 in an IED explosion while serving in Afghanistan. Wetzel underwent surgery, and both his legs were removed — one at the knee and the other just below the knee.

He later was brought to Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital.

His mother and wife have been by his side almost constantly as he continues to improve.

Hayes wrote an update about Corey on her son's Facebook page, requesting prayers.

“We were able to both be with him (Corey) in the ICU for his initial tests and assessment, because Josh's dad and step-mother arrived just before the ambulance ... Josh felt led to go pray over Corey, so he got into his wheelchair and headed to the ICU. We gathered around Corey's bed and Josh led us in prayer for healing for Corey, strength for the family and praise for the miracle of the approval allowing Corey to stay here ... God is performing miracles here at Bethesda, Md., and we have front-row seats.”

Garmon said Hayes met him and his wife when they arrived at the hospital about 3:15 a.m. Monday, and Paige Wetzel stayed with them until about 6 a.m.

“She gave us a heads-up about what to expect,” he said. “We are so thankful for what they have done for us, and we appreciate it so much. We are so grateful for all the support we've had from them and everyone in Sardis and Etowah County.”

Corey is a 2007 graduate of Sardis High School. Both his parents teach in the Etowah County Schools system.

A fundraiser already is set up for Saturday in Sardis.

A tent will be set up in front of Holland Motors, on U.S. Highway 431 in Sardis City. A road block will be at the intersection in front of the high school and at the four-way stop by Farm Town, all from 8 a.m. to noon.

Those who have established the fundraiser on Saturday wrote, “Corey and his family need prayers but this would also be a great way to help support his family as they are in Maryland comforting him. As we all know this is a costly expense for his family, and our community needs to stand up and support a courageous man who fought so hard to support our freedom.”

A fund also has been set up at Alabama Teachers Credit Union. Donations can be made at any branch to a fund established in Corey's name, or a donation can be mailed to Alabama Teachers Credit Union, P.O. Box 1400, Gadsden, AL 35901.

<p>Corey Garmon is back in the United States, hailed as a hero after being injured in Afghanistan almost a week ago. </p><p>Corey, an Army soldier from Sardis, arrived Sunday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.</p><p>He underwent an eight-hour surgery Monday, his father, Chris Garmon, said.</p><p>He remains heavily sedated and has a breathing tube that helps him rest as the healing begins. </p><p>Corey, 24, was injured Wednesday when an IED exploded while he and his squad were approaching a compound outside Kandahar. Five of eight squad members were injured. Garmon's left leg has been amputated below the knee, and he has two broken bones in his right leg. </p><p>His left arm is damaged, and his right cornea is bruised. He has numerous soft-tissue injuries from shrapnel.</p><p>He is scheduled for surgery every other day all week, his father said.</p><p>“He's physically strong,” his father said. “He is a miracle.”</p><p>Garmon said the mother and the wife of Josh Wetzel, an injured soldier from Glencoe, met Corey when he arrived at Walter Reed on Sunday. The women met Garmon and his wife, Lori, when they arrived at the hospital from Alabama early Monday.</p><p>As Corey was taken from the helicopter at the hospital, Wetzel's mother, Cathi Hayes, and his wife, Paige Wetzel, took some pictures and sent those to Corey's parents while they were trying to make their way to Maryland.</p><p>Facebook pages — Prayers for Josh Wetzel and Prayers for Corey Garmon — have been created for the soldiers.</p><p>Wetzel's has more than 13,000 members, and his family has been able to update almost daily about his condition.</p><p>Wetzel, a U.S. Army specialist, was injured May 31 in an IED explosion while serving in Afghanistan. Wetzel underwent surgery, and both his legs were removed — one at the knee and the other just below the knee.</p><p>He later was brought to Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital.</p><p>His mother and wife have been by his side almost constantly as he continues to improve.</p><p>Hayes wrote an update about Corey on her son's Facebook page, requesting prayers.</p><p>“We were able to both be with him (Corey) in the ICU for his initial tests and assessment, because Josh's dad and step-mother arrived just before the ambulance ... Josh felt led to go pray over Corey, so he got into his wheelchair and headed to the ICU. We gathered around Corey's bed and Josh led us in prayer for healing for Corey, strength for the family and praise for the miracle of the approval allowing Corey to stay here ... God is performing miracles here at Bethesda, Md., and we have front-row seats.”</p><p>Garmon said Hayes met him and his wife when they arrived at the hospital about 3:15 a.m. Monday, and Paige Wetzel stayed with them until about 6 a.m.</p><p>“She gave us a heads-up about what to expect,” he said. “We are so thankful for what they have done for us, and we appreciate it so much. We are so grateful for all the support we've had from them and everyone in Sardis and Etowah County.”</p><p>Corey is a 2007 graduate of Sardis High School. Both his parents teach in the Etowah County Schools system.</p><p>A fundraiser already is set up for Saturday in Sardis.</p><p>A tent will be set up in front of Holland Motors, on U.S. Highway 431 in Sardis City. A road block will be at the intersection in front of the high school and at the four-way stop by Farm Town, all from 8 a.m. to noon.</p><p>Those who have established the fundraiser on Saturday wrote, “Corey and his family need prayers but this would also be a great way to help support his family as they are in Maryland comforting him. As we all know this is a costly expense for his family, and our community needs to stand up and support a courageous man who fought so hard to support our freedom.”</p><p>A fund also has been set up at Alabama Teachers Credit Union. Donations can be made at any branch to a fund established in Corey's name, or a donation can be mailed to Alabama Teachers Credit Union, P.O. Box 1400, Gadsden, AL 35901.</p>